Followers

Monday, January 1, 2007

Leah

Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife.” But Laban brought his daughter Leah, and gave her to Jacob.

He removed my wedding veil without candle or lamp.He could not stop sighing, Rachel, Rachel,except to kiss, and not even then,breathing my sister’s name into my mouth.The first time fast and hungry, then he woketo caress everything, to tracethe bumps of my spine, the hollows of my knees.I tried to remember not to speak, but the “ahs”escaped. Finally, exhausted,he held me wrapped by both his arms and legs.And I waited in the dark, knowingthat no matter how many years we would spendliving as husband and wife,I would never be loved that way again.And I watched the tent wall slowly gofrom black to grey, my heartbeatcounting the minutes, until he would see my faceand scream.